Study on Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis in Forage Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Background: Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a valuable crop known for its resilience, adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions and primary source of nutritional fodder. Correlation and path coefficient analysis provide valuable insights into the magnitude and direction of relationships among different traits, thereby aiding in the selection of superior genotypes. This study aims to explore the correlation patterns among key morphological and green fodder yield-related traits in forage sorghum and also determine the direct and indirect effects of these traits. Methods: The experimental design involved ten diverse parents and their 45 F1 hybrids, excluding reciprocals, in a half diallel fashion. The materials were evaluated using a complete randomized block design with three replications where data were collected on ten morphological and green fodder yield related traits: days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield. Result: Green fodder yield showed significant and positive correlations with plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, stem girth, leaves per plant and leaf area at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. These traits are likely important components of yield in forage sorghum. Among these traits, leaf breadth exhibited the highest direct effect on green fodder yield per plant, followed by stem girth, leaf area, leaf stem ratio and leaves per plant at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. This suggests that the contributions of individual attributes to fodder yield are significant and should be considered in breeding programs aimed at developing high-yielding varieties.